Aloha 🌺 — you’re in for a treat! Kālua Pig (Kalua Pork) is a traditional Hawaiian dish that’s smoky, tender, and full of deep flavor. Traditionally, it’s cooked in an underground oven (imu), but you can make a fantastic version right in your oven or slow cooker.
🐖 Classic Oven / Slow Cooker Kālua Pig Recipe
🌴 Ingredients (serves 6–8)
- 4–5 lbs (1.8–2.2 kg) pork shoulder (also called pork butt)
- 1 tablespoon Hawaiian sea salt (or coarse kosher salt)
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke (mesquite or hickory flavor works best)
- Optional: 3–4 banana leaves (for wrapping — adds aroma but not required)
🔥 Instructions
1. Prep the pork
- Rinse and pat the pork shoulder dry.
- Pierce it all over with a fork or knife (about 1 inch deep).
- Rub the pork generously with Hawaiian salt.
- Drizzle liquid smoke evenly over the meat and rub it in.
2. Wrap (optional but authentic touch)
- If you have banana leaves, wrap the pork completely and secure with kitchen twine.
- Place the wrapped pork into a roasting pan or slow cooker.
3. Cook low and slow
👉 Option 1: Oven Method
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Cover the pan tightly with foil or a lid to trap steam.
- Roast for 4–5 hours, until the meat is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
👉 Option 2: Slow Cooker Method
- Cook on LOW for 8–10 hours or HIGH for 5–6 hours until fork-tender.
4. Shred and serve
- Remove pork from the pan or slow cooker and shred with two forks.
- Pour a bit of the pan juices back over the shredded meat for moisture and flavor.
🍚 How to Serve
- Traditionally served with sticky white rice and lomi lomi salmon or Hawaiian macaroni salad.
- Great in Hawaiian plates, sliders, tacos, or even over cabbage.
💡 Tips
- The liquid smoke gives it that authentic smoky, imu-cooked flavor — don’t skip it!
- Banana leaves (if available) add an earthy aroma but are optional.
- For extra authenticity, mix in a small amount of finely shredded cabbage during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Would you like me to give you a pressure cooker / Instant Pot version that makes perfect kalua pork in about 90 minutes?
